The Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA
The Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA is the first step for aspiring young drivers making the transition from karting into single seaters. The series entered an exciting new phase in 2022 with the second generation Tatuus T-421 chassis – featuring the all-important halo safety feature – and Abarth engines.
Wera Tools British F4 will continue to be the premier UK single-seater series for drivers looking to progress their careers with ambitions to follow in the footsteps of former British F4 champion Lando Norris and reach the pinnacle of the sport – Formula 1.
Since 2022, Motorsport UK has organised and promoted the championship, which features leading teams and at a competitive price enables drivers as young as 15 years of age to race on some of the most challenging and renowned circuits in the world. As the championship is certified by the FIA, 12 Super Licence points will be awarded to the overall champion to aid their progression through the single seater ranks.
British F4 offers real prospects for progression of young talent into the international scene and the championship’s 30 races, held over ten rounds, will continue to be showcased on the high-profile support package of the British Touring Car Championship, which features live free-to-air TV coverage.
The Wera Tools F4 British Championship certified by FIA
Listen Again! - Friday Night F4 Podcast - Brands Hatch GP - 9th October 2026
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Hello and welcome back to Friday Night F4, the official podcast for the Vera Tools British F4 Championship, certified by FIA. This week we are revved up and ready to go for a blockbuster season finale at Brands Hatch, where Drees, Van Langendonk, and Lewis Werrell will go head to head in the battle to be crowned 2026 Drivers Champion. This week brings a close to a thrilling 2026 campaign that has seen 13 different race winners and a total of 19 different podium finishers. And this year's title now boils down to three fascinating encounters around the legendary 2.4 mile Grand Prix circuit here in Kent. Rodin Motorsports Van Langendonk heads into the series finale with one hand, they stay very much on the trophy, holding a 72-point lead over JHR Development's Lewis Werrell. And here's the critical bit the maximum that anyone can score this weekend is 75 points. It's been a season that's been played out over 10 weekends, seven different venues, two countries, and with an incredible 42 drivers from 21 nationalities taking to the grid. The question now is who will walk away with the title and applaud it for the 2026 British F4 season. And it's not just the Drivers' Championship that will be decided here at Brands this weekend as both the Rookie Cup and Teams Cup are still up for grabs. It's probably fair to say the deck is stacked in favour of Van Langendonk, who has been nothing short of sublime throughout the season. Eight wins, a further three podium finishes, and four Codola pole position awards have provided the legacy for his title play. And there is a tantalising prospect in play here this weekend, with Drees needing just a handful of points to take the title. That's something to watch out for for sure. Meanwhile, three-time race winner Lewis Werrell has, as they say, nothing to lose and everything to gain. And I'm sure he'll be looking to pull off what would without doubt be one of the most momentous comebacks in British F4 history. It's not just the drivers' championship that Van Langendonk and Werrell are battling over, as they are also the top two in the Rookie Cup standings, where Van Langendonk holds a 23.5 point lead over his season-long rival. High tech are also within touching distance of ending Roden Motorsport's two-year strangle hold in the Team's Cup. Arriving at Brands Hatch with an 83.5 point lead, drivers Theo Palmer, Scott Kim Lindblom, Kiara Battig and Adam Alazzari will hope to seal the deal as early as possible this weekend. Of course, it isn't just about the top two at Brands Hatch, as behind them are a whole host of drivers who'll be bidding to sign off their respective seasons on a high. Theo Palmer currently sits third but could yet snatch second from Lewis Werrell in the fight towards the top of the standings, while George Proudford Nolder, Ethan Lennon, and Scott Kinnenbloom all have silverware in their sides lots to play for this weekend. Elsewhere, Chris Dittman ratings Tommy Harfield will be eager to add to that tremendous win he scored last time out at Silverstone. While Adam Alazari, Jarrett Clark, and Jabba Alzabar will also be worth keeping an eye on. It's going to be a cracker on track. But before that, we've got a great podcast lined up for you to set the scene for the season finale here at Brands Hatch. Some drivers use it for race experience and seat time, and others as part of their planning for which team they might work with next year. First up, having had a decent time in Genettas, Jesse Phillips is now looking to an F4 drive as the next step on the ladder. He joined me early this morning, just before free practice. Well it's always nice to catch up with uh somebody new uh in the F4 Race Centre and somebody I'm sure we'll be seeing a great deal of next year. Jesse Phillips, you're joining Rodin. Good to see you. Welcome to British F4.
SPEAKER_09Thank you. Yeah, I'm looking forward to it. Um hopefully it's going to be a good weekend. Had a good past year in Janetas, so looking forward to it. Hopefully can learn quite a bit this weekend and take it all into next year.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. So stepping up from Janettas, first of all, tell me how how was that season for you?
SPEAKER_09Yeah, it was good. Learnt a lot. Uh great racing, great with the team, great year, like I said. Um yeah, it was great fun. Um learned loads in the racing bit. I think it's great class to have your first year in cars.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, did you step up to Janettas from karting?
SPEAKER_09Yeah, went straight from karting up to up to the genetas and have a bit of a tussle up with everyone.
SPEAKER_02The genetas are great for learning that um what's that phrase, rubbing is racing, isn't it? A little bit of contact's not so now uh moving into open wheel, into the F4 Championship, that is another step up, Jesse, isn't it?
SPEAKER_09Exactly. I mean you can't really do as much contact in in the not get away with it, no. No, you can't get away with it. Um but no, I think it's gonna be good, I can't wait for it um take that next step.
SPEAKER_02Why now? Why have you chosen to do it for 20, well now in 2027?
SPEAKER_09So I turned 15 a couple of weeks ago, um, and obviously the minimum age is 15. So as soon as I turned 15 we were straight up into it. Uh same with Geneta, as soon as I turned 14, we were straight into that. Um trying to get through it as quick as we can, but obviously starting it early so that we can get as much experience.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. Have you had much seat time in this uh F4 car?
SPEAKER_09We have done a few test bits of testing in the back end of this year, um, been around a few teams trying to see what's best ideas for next year and uh see where we'll end up.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. Well it looks like you're ending up at Rodin, isn't it? Which which uh which is no bad thing. Um what was it like the first time climbing into this F4 car? Because you know moving up to Janetta's is a step up from karting and then moving up to F4 is is another big leap from Janettes, isn't it?
SPEAKER_09Yeah, of course. Um when I got in it, it was my first day, I was buzzing, I couldn't wait. Um but I think as any racing driver you just get in and kind of forget about all of that and and then you're just driving round and focusing on the bits that you need to focus on, like going past.
SPEAKER_02Do you have to relearn your racecraft moving from the genetic in into uh the F4 car?
SPEAKER_09I think the racecraft will be quite a big thing, um, just because of how different they are. Obviously, this is a single seater and the genetta's definitely not. Um the whole mannerisms of everything is very different. I'd say this is a bit more similar to a go-kart and the genetta's a bit more like a boat. It rolls out around a lot more, which is very fun to drive, but um yeah, it's super different to the formula cars.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I actually great. I might write that down. I love that quote. The Jeanette is a bit like a boat. We will remember you for that. Uh Jesse, that's brilliant. Um, so uh I mean what are you looking forward to most? I mean, there's a new challenge for you in moving up in the media attention and all the bits that that go with it on your your you know your motorsport uh career ladder. What are you looking forward to most about uh a full F4 championship uh you know battle?
SPEAKER_09Obviously, I think it's the first step into the proper pathway to get to Formula One.
SPEAKER_11Is that that's the aim, is it Formula One? Yeah, of course.
SPEAKER_09Um and yeah, obviously it's like the first step to get there, and this is where the actual everything starts to matter a bit more, and I'm looking forward to that challenge and see where it takes us.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. Uh you mentioned Formula One. Have you got any any idols that you follow, either past, present, or upcoming?
SPEAKER_09I mean, I think they're all very good, and if I could be up there then that's fine. There's no no idol, I think they're all very good. Obviously Max Stappen is very good, he's probably the one that I do look up to the most just because he is that good and with on and off track, he's will do anything to win, and that's where I want to try and get to one day, but we'll see where it goes.
SPEAKER_02Is there is a motor racing history in your family, or are you the the first?
SPEAKER_09No, I'm the first. I started when I was six years old in karting, so started very early. Um and then yeah, since that then it has been our life as a family, but no, nothing before me.
SPEAKER_11It's all consuming, isn't it? Do the family go around with you to your race meetings?
SPEAKER_09So they used to when I was in karting, it was normally my mum and dad taking me, um, but now it's Jordan, um, people from ADD taking me there, my coaches and people like that who are supporting me across the weekends.
SPEAKER_02So your life is now motorsports. Um which is fair to say, isn't it? You're smiling, so obviously you've made it you made the right choice. Uh how does that work with uh you mentioned you just turned 15 a couple of weeks ago, happy birthday uh for that. How does that work with with schooling? Do you still go to you know a sort of normal school?
SPEAKER_09I do go to normal school, not homeschooled. Yeah. Um yeah, or if we if we do. My dad's very anti-the-homeschool, he says that I have to go to school for the social aspect of everything. Um he's not too bothered about the education, but because we can obviously do that at homeschool, but the socialising with people and going to school with friends and stuff like that, I think he thinks is a very big thing. Um I would already I would obviously prefer to be homeschooled and go on the sim all day and do stuff like that and be in the car a lot more, but obviously I think it's the the longer longer process which will probably be better by the end of the day.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. And I'm I I know you want to be in the car and you want to focus completely on the motor racing, but um I I suspect your dad's seeing the long game, isn't he? So uh at school, what are your good subjects?
SPEAKER_09I'm quite good at math. Um English I'm not very good at. It doesn't work. I think it's one or the other for me, um, and it's definitely math. Um yeah, we're one of the top sets in that, but then English with my brain does not process the exact same.
SPEAKER_02Um Do you know it's interesting you say that because I've spoken to a lot of all of the drivers in the current grid, and the majority of them when I ask them that sort of question say maths is what they do because and I'm trying to work out whether or not racing drivers have just a thing about them that says motorsport equals engineering equals precision, and therefore that's why the maths bit comes in. It's really interesting.
SPEAKER_09Yeah, probably. Um obviously as you can see it's a bit of a bit of a similarity between all of us, and we obviously get the data a lot, um, which is all graphs and numbers and stuff like that, which definitely helps.
SPEAKER_02Interesting point. So, what do all your friends at school make of you the uh the motor racing driver? Are you still you know just Jesse the the guy at school today?
SPEAKER_09Or or are you yeah, you are um which I think is good. Um I prefer it like that and not have done anything like the racing driver. Um although they all know of it, um I think it's local. But um it's just a normal kid at school, which I'm very grateful for and just have normal friends and nothing to do with racing at school. Yeah, two separate lines, which is good.
SPEAKER_02Interesting. Um full assault next season with with Rodin. What now happens over the winter period for you?
SPEAKER_09Um probably enter a winter championship, we're not too sure which one yet. Um same with team wise, not too sure yet. Uh I think at the end of this year, doing a few races with a few other teams will be good. Um just to see, like I said at the start, where we're gonna go for next year and see what suits the environment best and where I enjoy the most.
SPEAKER_02So forgive me, is is it not settled that you're going to Rodin for next year? No, yeah. Ah, right, okay, right. Um so um looking at this year's championship, I'm sure you've kept an eye on it. Um what have you made of the championship this year?
SPEAKER_09So far it looks great. Um, loads going on, similar to the Geneta, but obviously not as much. Um but yeah, which I'm really looking forward to. The racing looks great, there's always something going on, but it doesn't spread out too much. Um yeah, so I'm I'm looking forward to it. I think it'll be great.
SPEAKER_02You can't wait to get yourself on that grid for next year. Exactly. Absolutely fantastic. Really good to catch up with you. Um uh we will chat again. Uh we have a media day to begin next year, and I will no doubt see you uh next year as well. But uh for now, good to see you uh and enjoy this final round here at Bank. Thank you. I will seven-time USA karting champion Alex Vanchev takes to the grid this weekend with Chris Dittman Racing. Another young driver from Miami looking for a taste of the European racing experience. Okay, well, another new face joining us in the F4 Race Centre for Friday Night F4 is uh Alex Vanchev. Alex, good to see you joining the grid for uh for Brands Hatch. You're looking forward to it.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, really excited for sure. I'm uh ready to build up some experience and be ready for next year.
SPEAKER_02Now, I was looking at your your biolog. You're Bulgarian American by background, is that right? So, uh, how does that work in your family? Which side is which?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, so both my parents are Bulgarian, but I was born in the United States and I live there in uh Miami, Florida.
SPEAKER_02Okay, that's why that's where you're based, or that's where you live, Miami. Looking at the weather outside here today, it's probably a bit warmer in Miami than it is. So um tell us a little bit about your um background in motor racing, Alex.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, um I started karting about five years ago in the uh United States, and um since then I've I've raced in pretty much every category. And uh I started in many, then I went up into junior and uh ended off in senior, and uh throughout my career I picked up uh seven national championships in the United States, so I think it was a promising career, and now I'm ready for the transition into single season.
SPEAKER_02You're very calm when you say that. You sort of skipped over seven times USA national carting champion. That's some achievement.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Which was the best one, the first one or the last one?
SPEAKER_04I think the first one for sure. When you win your first one, it's uh feeling like no other.
SPEAKER_02So, what's the plan? What's the long-term plan in motorsport? What do you want to aspire to?
SPEAKER_04Um, yeah, so um as I keep building up experience, obviously I'm gonna start in F4, then hopefully climb the uh ladder in European uh single seaters. Um I also I know that the scene is strong in America for um the indie car side of things, so I think um it just depends on how things work out in a couple years from now.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, it's interesting because uh you probably know there's a number of drivers from uh from the states in the championship this year, Jackson Walney among them. Uh and and there seems to be uh, you know, increasing number of drivers from America coming over into the European Championships because they want to go through the FIA ladder to to F1. What why not IndyCar initially? What's the what's the attraction, the bigger attraction of F1 rather than IndyCar?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, so I think um the main thing is that if you start here, I think it's easier to transition back to America later on. Whereas if you start in America, it's difficult to transition here if you want to in the yeah later on. But of course, everyone, everyone wants to go to F1. I think it's seen as the premier premier scene of uh single seaters, and it's everyone's uh goal coming in, so I think uh that also contributes to it.
SPEAKER_02What led you to karting and motorsport as a career?
SPEAKER_04Um I just um I started watching F1 races on uh television when I was younger, and I just uh I yeah became addicted, so just uh begged my parents to take me to uh to a karting truck and it began from there.
SPEAKER_11Do you follow anybody particular in F1? Have you got a uh somebody that you really follow?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, um one of my favorite drivers is Charles Leclerc and um uh as well Nicolas Solov, he's an F2, but he's from um he's from Bulgaria as well, so it's um it's great to see someone.
SPEAKER_02So do you do you keep an eye on all of the the FIA formulas from F1 you know through to F4?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, for sure. I think uh yeah, definitely.
SPEAKER_02Because uh obviously um you'll know that uh there are a number of drivers in in F1 who've come and their journey started in uh in British F4, which is uh which is good. Have you uh and there's a number of uh of other sort of European series. Do you think you might try several of them or or do some of them?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, I think before we make a decision for next year, we'll definitely keep our options open and try everything to find the best possible fit.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. Are you a good sportsman outside of a car? What else do you do? What are your interests, Alex? What uh what do you occupy yourself with when you're not on the sim or in the gym or racing?
SPEAKER_04Um I really like racket sports. So um when I was younger I played some tennis, um, but now in America um it's uh a couple of sports are growing, such as pickleball and paddle.
SPEAKER_02Pickleball. Yeah. Right. This is a new paddle I I know about. What is pickleball?
SPEAKER_04Pickleball, it's it's pretty much a bit smaller, a bit smaller version of paddle. Okay. It's it's closer to tennis, actually, but there are no walls around the core, it's just a smaller version with uh smaller version of tennis, and they play with um plastic paddles and uh balls rather than.
SPEAKER_02I'm sure there'll be people listening who will be saying, Oh, he doesn't know what pickleball is, it's huge, but I'd never heard of it. Well, that that's interesting. Are you a golfer as well? Do you golf? No, never tried to be honest. I'm I'm with you on that one. I chat to a lot of the drivers say, Oh, yeah, I'm golfing and I've got a reasonable handicap and off they go. They love it, but I don't get it. But then go pickleball. I'm gonna have to look that up. Um what are you hoping to get out of this weekend, uh Alex? I mean the weather's, you know, it's gonna be classic October weather at uh Brands Hatch GP Circuit, which is a lovely circuit to drive. What are you hoping to get out of this weekend?
SPEAKER_04Um I don't think I've uh got the same amount of experience as some of the other guys that have done it, of course, the entire season. So I'm just trying to learn as much as possible, and I think that the best way to learn is here at a waste race weekend, kind of in the most serious part in the deep end. So um yeah, I'm just trying to learn. I have no expectations as all for results, but uh as long as I end at a higher level than I started, then I'll be happy.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. Have you had uh much seat time in the F4 car?
SPEAKER_04Um I've had 10 test days, so not too much to be honest.
SPEAKER_11So you're familiar with the car though, it's not like jumping in it for the first time.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, yeah, a bit familiar with it.
SPEAKER_11And have you driven the the circuit here at Bram's Hatch?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, I I did the um Wednesday test day, which was at the Indy Circuit, and I did um a test day earlier on in I think it was uh September that was also the GP circuit.
SPEAKER_02Okay, and what what do you make of uh of the GP circuit here at Bram's Hatch? I think I think it's amazing.
SPEAKER_04Well, I think um all the tracks in the UK have been a big surprise to me. I really like them. They're nice and flowy, lots of elevation and um super difficult for sure, but I think Brand stands out as one of the highlights of um the UK uh tracks. Um with the yeah, obviously the elevation, lots of cool corners, like um sending so much speed into Hawthorne's uh T1, you can see an amazing elevation drop. It's huge.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and you go into that that blind effectively, don't you? You can't see the exit as you as you go into Paddock Hill Bend, you approach it and then have to take a leap of faith over that right hander, don't you? Yeah, exactly. You can't see anything. That's making you smile. You're I can like all racing drivers, you're visualizing that in the in your head. Uh interesting point you make there about the uh the British circuits particularly being more challenging and helping you develop. Are they the American circuits tend to be a little less exciting?
SPEAKER_04Um, I think um some of the circuits just around the world, they um tend to be um a bit less challenging in the aspect that it's um you don't really um feel the feel the punishment if you go if you make a mistake. Um yeah it took me a while to find the word there, but um there's lots of uh lots of tracks that have such big runoffs and it's just uh tarmac on the exit and you have such a long way to the wall. But here, you know, into Hawthorne's the wall is just right next to you, and you're sending so much speed through the corner. So I think um if you start here and you build up the confidence on these tracks, you'll have no problem with some of the other tracks that have the uh bigger runoff.
SPEAKER_02That's interesting, good insight. Thank you for that. Um so by the time we finished this weekend, uh what are you looking to do? You're looking to for a top 10 finish, hopefully, or or what are you looking for?
SPEAKER_04Yeah, I think top 10, top 15 is what I'm aiming for, but um, I can't expect too much. I don't have too much. Much time in the car, but yeah, just trying to learn. Everyone's told me that the results don't matter. It's just uh about preparing as most as you can for next year. Yeah, absolutely.
SPEAKER_02Excellent. Good to see you. Enjoy your time at Brands Hatch. I do believe the weather is going to get a bit better and you might even see some sun. Not quite Miami sun, but you might see some sun. Have a great weekend. Yeah, thank you very much. Time now to catch up with championship manager Eve Lake Grange and all things behind the scenes of British F4. Well, Eve, here we are at Brands Hatch. Not for the beginning of the season, but the end of the season. Right, okay, so where has that year gone?
SPEAKER_00I have no idea. Hasn't it gone so quickly?
SPEAKER_02The second half of the season seems to have gone more quickly as well, as the championship has sort of uh got closer and ramped up as it felt right now too. I mean you're busy throughout the whole year now, aren't you?
SPEAKER_00Uh yes, it has felt uh particularly uh relentless. Um but in a good way. I think it's been it's been uh a roller coaster this year, I'd say. We've had uh lots of uh ups and downs, but it's just been something that we can't get off, and now we're at the end.
SPEAKER_02So more ups than downs.
SPEAKER_00Oh absolutely more ups than downs. I think it's been a fantastic season, it's been super exciting, and the fact that there's still plenty to fight for this weekend, you know, with uh all you know, the drivers, rookie and teams champions at the championship are still up for grabs. So yeah, I think there's uh it's nice to go into the weekend with that excitement building out.
SPEAKER_02It is well well look at that in in detail in a second. But just oh we've spoken about this before, and and my feeling is that this year the breadth of talent in the championship has been greater and closer than it has been for uh for a long time.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I mean I think it's it's been rewarding to see actually not just the growth of the championship but also uh like you say the level of of racing that we have here and uh there's some exceptional uh young drivers out there across the whole grid, you know. It's not like you've got we've had years where there's been standout people, of course, but there's the talent out there is is is amazing to see.
SPEAKER_02It is absolutely and and whether they win the title or not isn't necessarily a a pointer either way as to where they go in their future because they're there's still a talent that can develop and go further.
SPEAKER_00Absolutely not, and I think that's what's great about this championship, you know, it's a learning formula and they're coming here to learn. So it doesn't matter whether you obviously everyone wants to go away with the championship, but you know, they are all going to hopefully leave here having learned something that they can carry on to the next stage of their career for sure.
SPEAKER_02It's interesting throughout the season talking to the to the drivers, there are particular times when I all I always ask them, what have you learned this year? What are you going to take away from this year? And they've always got a hatful of things that have uh made them better and that improved their racecraft. And as you say, that that's where the journey begins, isn't it? This that this is the real uh you know the bottom part of the learning curve which uh which takes them to Formula One if that's where they want to go.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, absolutely, and I think do you know what that's one of the reasons I love this job is you're kind of at the beginning of that and you get to see these kids turn up and just the amount of progression you see from start to finish, not just in the fact that they've grown up, but you know, they're on track abilities, but they leave more well-rounded drivers, I think, in all aspects of that.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. And I was thinking, and I spoke to a lot of the drivers, they quite enjoy the autograph session because they turn up on a Sunday. And and you suddenly realize that somebody picking up one of those headshots or or an autograph in a program or a selfie in X number of years' time, they could be thunder on the on the top you know, step in in Formula One, but they've got that that that moment that nobody can take away from them, and they've met those drivers.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, absolutely. And I think that I I think it's nice to have those little mementos anyway as you go.
SPEAKER_02And if you've got selfies with all the drivers, just in case, and they'll say, Oh, I remember Eve from Formula Four.
SPEAKER_00I wish, I wish.
SPEAKER_02I bet they've taken some selfies, I bet they have. Um now, we're we're at Brands Hatch for the final. It's uh it's down to Dries and Lewis. Um I've spoken to to both of them today, they're pretty chilled, both of them to be honest. They're good friends, they know each other from their from their carting days. But but they've put on a heck of a show this year.
SPEAKER_00They really have, they really have. And I think um like you say, the fact that they're friends, it's really really nice to just see that play out as well. You know, they they're going congratulating each other afterwards and they hang out. I just think that's uh it's nice that on track, obviously it's a battle, but off track they can still be able to do that. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_02And Dries has said to me he wants to do it in style. Um because I said, well, you know, if you're at a pole position, you could you could win it. He said, Yeah, well I don't know if I want to do that. It's a classic, a classic Drees. And of course Lewis is saying, hang on a minute, I've got to keep my my eye on my mirrors because Theo Palmer's up there as well. So you think actually it's it's bigger than just the two of them. But it it it sort of epitomizes this season, that battle, isn't it? It's been swinging each way, and the the interest and the momentum for this championship is probably greater this year than it's been for a while because of that battle. Yeah, so this season, I mean, it it's the the interest track side of the numbers of people who've come to the autograph sessions, the people who've got listening to the podcast shows that that battle and the the drivers this year are generating and helping the growth of the championship.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and I think that's exactly what we want, you know. Uh every year we aspire to make things bigger and better, and the very fact that we can bring these drivers' personalities alive, you can, you know, they engage with fans, there's they they put they do the action on track, you know, it's kind of like that, all of that adds up to uh making a pretty good spectacle, I think.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely, it's going to be an incredible weekend uh here at Brands Hatch. Um, and it doesn't happen though, without what goes on in the background. But all of the organisations and the people who who help you and help this championship come together, and I know that they're important. I mean VeraTools, obviously uh the championship, but I mean lots of other people.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and I think you know, a huge thank you to VeraTools, uh our title sponsor for their continued uh support and commitment to the championship. But yes, as you say, equally grateful to all of our um championship partners. I mean their involvement goes well beyond branding and the support they provide, it helps us continue to develop um the championship, but also our drivers and teams, it kind of gives back. So I think, yeah, just a massive thank you to everybody for the support this year.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely, a round of applause for all those people and the supporting uh this championship. Um so we start to now think, well, I mean, you've been thinking about 2027 since 2025, haven't you? 2027, the planning for that. Where are you at? Um there's certain things you can't reveal yet, and we want to keep people on Tentalks, but where are you in the planning stage for 2027?
SPEAKER_00Um we are almost there. Uh we have we've got some particularly exciting things that I wish I could talk about, but um hopefully not too long, and we'll be able to share. But you know, um we have we have an enormous amount of ambition for this championship, and um the calendar itself is a you know has to reflect that. Um so I'm particularly excited about uh a couple of things there which uh yeah give me a bit more time and I should be able to share an update on that. But you know, it's it's not just the calendar, it's it's everything that goes into it. We've got some big changes, big changes behind the scenes, I should say, not necessarily anything the outside people would see, but yeah, there's um there's a lot of work going into it, and it feels like as you say, we've been doing it for a while. 2027 feels like it's already started for me. Um but I'm it's I'm not sad about that. It's it's something that I'm really looking forward to, and I think that um drivers looking to join the championship or remaining with the championship, I think there's gonna be a lot for them to sort of go, I'm glad I want to be a part of that, or I'm glad I'm a part of that. So yeah, I'm looking forward to being able to talk about it more.
SPEAKER_02Yes, and I can see that you're itching to do that because you're doing that, scratching your chin and thinking, I wish I could say, I wish I could say. And obviously, people are gonna be looking towards the calendar, and you know, there's some some exciting stuff coming there, isn't it?
SPEAKER_00There is, yes, and it's we're very close, very close.
SPEAKER_02More coming up. Equally exciting is that this isn't the last time that the fans are gonna be able to hear from us, is it?
SPEAKER_00I know, how exciting! A little season review we're bringing, yes?
SPEAKER_02So that's gonna be coming up shortly, a date, a date to be announced, but they won't have to listen for so we won't have to wait for too long, will they, before we get uh the lowdown. So it's not the last that they're gonna hear from us.
SPEAKER_00No, it's not the last. Um excited. Yeah, so um, I am I am particularly excited that hopefully the next time you hear from us uh it'll be well worth tuning into.
SPEAKER_02You heard it here first. So just sound again next time you hear from us, there'll be some exciting news. Alright, I'm gonna write that down because I'm gonna hold you to that. There's a to-do list there for Eve Lakes. It will be done. Um, and the uh the announcement about that uh date's coming up in a couple of weeks, isn't it? So we'll um we'll let everybody know. The season review is on the horizon. So I want to say uh Eve, congratulations uh on this season. You've done an incredible job, and I know an awful lot of people will join me uh in saying that. Uh a lot happens that people don't realise that you and the team do, but you're you're leading it as championship manager. Um and it's been a pleasure our chats this season. It's been good, hasn't it?
SPEAKER_00It really has.
SPEAKER_02I promised you cake and biscuits at the beginning of the year, and I failed miserably.
SPEAKER_00No, I mean uh yeah, I would like to take this opportunity, if I may, to say a big thank you to my team, but also to you guys. It's been an absolute pleasure joining you.
SPEAKER_02Let's do it all again.
SPEAKER_00Yes, let's.
SPEAKER_02Which will be good. Okay, Eve enjoyed this weekend um and uh all of the presentations that are going to go on. There's gonna be lots of clapping and hugging and all sorts later on, isn't there? It's gonna be a fantastic one. Good to see you.
SPEAKER_00All right, thank you.
SPEAKER_02With the 2026 championship title within his grasp, Dries van Langendonk will be looking to the finish this season in style. But the job is not done yet, as we discussed. Well, Dries, uh, thanks for popping in straight out of the car after free practice. I'm gonna share this with uh with the listeners. You can drive an F1 car to that level, but you've just had trouble putting your headphones up for this interview.
SPEAKER_06That wasn't my power of this movie, though. That's yeah. We we want to forget about that moment.
SPEAKER_02I wonder what it is about these headphones that catches you out. Um Dries, I said to you just as you walked in before, you're looking very calm and uh and in the zone uh this weekend. I are you calm?
SPEAKER_06Um well obviously the pressure's there. I think you know I could still lose it for sure. Um but I'm really close to it, and uh for me it's more I'm just here to enjoy it. Um I feel like it's last weekend and uh I just want to enjoy it um with a team again and enjoy Brands Atch because I like I love Brands Atch, so um yeah I'm just here to enjoy it now. And obviously I'm focused on the championship, and there's obviously this pressure, and uh I'm obviously still a little bit nervous about it, but um I I just want to enjoy my time here for the last round of British because it's been quite a nice season.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. You mentioned the pressure, and there's that old saying, isn't it, that pressure is a privilege. Uh you know, have you has it felt like that to you this season?
SPEAKER_06Um yeah for sure, but obviously I've tried not to put much pressure on myself because I kept reminding me myself it was a long season even when I when I had uh those bad rounds in uh in round two, three and four where Lewis caught up quite a chunk. Um but then I obviously bounced back nicely in the in the in the after the summer break. So um yeah, like I said, I was just reminding myself to to to think about the long season and uh and that anything can happen like we saw in uh Zanfort where Lewis had a bad weekend and I uh double won uh double pull and double win it. So um yeah, it was just a long season and it was just about reminding myself to be consistent.
SPEAKER_02You only need I think two points, uh don't you to to take the title, which means you could, in theory, uh win it uh if you get to poll here at Brand Tage. I wish people could see the smile on your face, it's brilliant.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, I mean it I think it's quite yeah, it's quite sad winning it when you go pole position, because it's not like when you got the get pole position, it's not it's not like you don't get that buzz, it's not like uh when you end the race.
SPEAKER_02Right, so that and that's the bit I was wanting to know about. Do you want to do it in style?
SPEAKER_06I do want to do it in style. Right, okay. That's the way you always want to win the challenge, but uh I mean I also want it to be calm, I don't want to get involved in too much chaos, so uh yeah. But I like I'd rather do it in the race, but obviously if I I still I'm here to get the championship, so if it if it happens equally, I'm not too bothered.
SPEAKER_02Well, if you if you do take pole position and then take the title, obviously we'll talk in part firmly. Please don't be disappointed.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, no, I uh I might be disappointed about it, won't you?
SPEAKER_02That said, just looking at the timings from that free practice session, you for the first or third of the session, you were leading the times, doing very well. Um but by the end of it you finished 11th.
SPEAKER_06Yeah, I mean um it was all a bit chaos because um obviously stick runners like Lewis and I think Hightech went out a bit earlier. Yeah. Then I went earlier earlier out as well than most other people. Um but obviously then it was immediately red flag on my out laps, so I didn't really get much temp of my tires or a push lap. And then when went back out again, I had like I think uh out and then I was planning to do like two warm-up laps. Um and on my second warmer lap, that was actually my best lap, but I caught heavy traffic and I was still weaving down the straight, so it wasn't like I got a push lap in, and then it was obviously red flag and it didn't go green again. So I think yeah, I I hope the last session's gonna be dry because I can get a read like uh Scott did and Lewis did for the most part. But um no, it just it just was a bit of chaos, and uh with these conditions it's always gonna be tough with red flag. So um yeah, I think also you know this weekend we'll last out the pit, so it's difficult for us this weekend to manage traffic. Um, like let's say high tech who are out first every time. So um, but no, it was just an unfortunate session, but uh the pace was definitely there in the wet. Uh it's just about getting a clean lap in the dry.
SPEAKER_02We we touched briefly on uh winning the championship in style, um, and brands hatch GP circuit, a phenomenally famous historic circuit, is a great one to do it on, isn't it?
SPEAKER_06Yeah, I love I love that this is the season finale, it's just a great track. I absolutely love it, especially the back section is just amazing. It's um especially in quality, it's just like you need to be on the limit everywhere and sort of moving around, and you're like if you go off uh or dip a wheel in the gravel because it's not like uh like mullen tracks now where you got a lot of runoff. This is really old school, where if you dip a wheel on the grass, you're basically in the wall. So um yeah, it's just really cool on the folly lap and also the undulation is like amazing, so uh it's just a really cool track.
SPEAKER_02You've already sort of alluded to some of the parts of the season which didn't quite go to plan. Every driver has highs and lows throughout a season. What have been the highs for you?
SPEAKER_06Um well I'd say um Don International was a good start to the season, except for race three, where uh yeah, obviously got an unfortunate penalty with Tio, but um no, good points all I'm still leading the championship after that and uh double pulling uh one race win, which was a good start. Then I wouldn't say necessarily Brand Zenny was a highlight because um the pace that weekend wasn't it wasn't bad. I think we just had a lot of problems throughout the weekend. Obviously, F2 didn't go so well, and then we were sort of guessing on where to go with the car, or just we didn't quite have the right way to go. Um, and then in quality we struggled a bit a tiny bit, and especially when you've got a lot of track mileage to do. Um when you're on the track like a brands in the which is quite short, everyone's gonna get to like a really good level, and you need to be on it with both car and driver, and we weren't quite there, so when you're 700, it's P4 and you're starting P8 for the races, aren't you? So um yeah, I'd say that weekend wasn't necessarily high, although I won race three, but um no, it was really yeah, it was really tight around there, but still managed to get a good point so and then I'd say obviously Sound fought double win, and then obviously these last three rounds have been really good. And then I thought um Croft we had a good chance, but Silverston obviously it's uh it's again really tight track with groups and qualifying as well. So uh I wasn't you know I was trying to get good points in Silverstone rather than extend my championship lead, but obviously it played in my favour.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, uh Lewis has has kept you under pressure all season. It's you know he was leading, you were leading. That the gap has stretched a little a little bit now, but he's kept you honest and under pressure. We mentioned the word pressure before, do we mean all season? And I know you you two get on really well, don't you?
SPEAKER_06Yeah, yeah. I mean me and Lewis have been teammates. I I know him since I was like 10 years old when I first went internationally. So uh me and Lewis know each other for a long while, and uh he's a really good driver. He was always keeping me on my toes, even in karting. So um, no, it it's it's really good. He's a really good driver, and I think he's definitely kept me under pressure uh the whole season, like I've kept him under pressure the whole season as well. So um, yeah, I think we're just pushing each other the whole way. I think we've definitely been like you saw in Croft and uh Silverson, we've definitely been a step abroad for the rest of the field the whole season as well.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. Now I know how incredibly committed you are to your motorsport career. Do you get any time to do anything but you're shaking your head already? Do you get any but no downtime at all?
SPEAKER_06Um well a little bit, but I I like to spend my downtime than just staying at home. We don't necessarily go on vacation too much or or anything because even with now when I'm testing Freck or something like that, it's always you know, you're always somewhere, and then when you finally get home, I'd rather stay at home instead of going going on vacation or anything like that. So for me, the way to relax is just sim racing, spend time with my dogs, and just spend time with my family. So um yeah, you don't get a lot when you're discommitted, and it's also yeah, it's part of it, and I know that, and that's why I love it.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. I now we've spoken before about your ultimate aim and and what you want to achieve. Is is that now a step closer for you?
SPEAKER_06Um, well, I mean the way is still long. I think it's just about I think I've got good people behind me now who support me a lot. Um, but like I said, the way is long and I've still got to perform in every category I go, and a lot can happen if you have a bad year or so, and then you get stuck. So um, yeah. Obviously, you know, this has been a good year, it boosts my career even further, and I think I've showed what I can do this year again in the in the first year of cars, which is always important. But um no, it's it's just gonna be about doing my best every year and taking it step by step. I try and be trying and be focused on everything and try and be focused like in the moment, not looking ahead too much, and just try and do my best and enjoy it.
SPEAKER_02One of the the things that uh happens on a Sunday, you'd have done this for every round this weekend, is the um is the autograph session where you all sit outside and the fans all all come along. Um I was trying to work out which of the drivers had signed the most autographs and which had had the most selfies. You must be up there somewhere, Trice, I would have thought.
SPEAKER_06Probably, I think um obviously the back McLaren backing helps a lot because I think that there's a lot of uh McLaren fans in the in br in br uh in England, and uh yeah, it's great to see a lot of McLaren fans as well. So um for me it's quite a pleasure to uh you know see these young fans and hopefully aspiring young drivers as well, and hopefully aspire them to to drive themselves one day. So um for me it's great, but obviously uh it helps that uh McLaren are back in me, and obviously there's a lot of McLaren fans there.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. What's I mean are they asking you any difficult questions or um no, just they just want the photograph, don't they? So that when you're on that podium in F1, they can say, look, I've got a picture of us in F4.
SPEAKER_06Obviously, there's there's some people trying to trying to do interviews and that, and that's also part of the game, but um, for the most part it's just photos, and it's just really nice seeing them all.
SPEAKER_02Um it begs the question, Dries, what's next? Do you know what is happening for 2027?
SPEAKER_06I do know what's next, and I think obviously a lot of people have seen me testing and all that, so uh I think a lot of people know what's next, but um yeah, we're still we're still not nothing's confirmed yet, so I think that's all all yet to be published and announced. So um yeah, but you'll you'll find out very soon, and I think a lot of people have an idea.
SPEAKER_02Uh there's gonna be a lot of people speculating, isn't there? Goodness we well. Um have you enjoyed your F4 season?
SPEAKER_06Um yeah, I've definitely enjoyed it. Um obviously a lot of great people off track and have gone on really well with rodent, but there's definitely been some lows, it's definitely been one of my uh most difficult careers and my uh difficult years of my career, and um especially you know the Donlington um penalty, which was quite quite harsh, I thought, and it was also you know, I was really gutted after that because I could have extended my championship even further, but um, and then also you know the suspension was part of it as well. But um no, to be honest, I've really enjoyed it, and I think these things are you know, it happens, it's gonna happen in every single motor, in every single category I go to. So for me, you know, it's part of the game and it's never gonna get easy. I know that myself. So um, but no, overall I've really enjoyed it, and there's great people here, and it's a great championship overall.
SPEAKER_02What's been the biggest single thing that you've learned and will take away from this year?
SPEAKER_06Um I think I've in general not had one specific thing that I've learned from. I think it's just every year you're building on all the aspects of yourself and trying to become a more complete driver. Um, so yeah, obviously there's plenty more of things like obviously with the British weather, we didn't get that a lot here, but I think the wet weather running and the and the damp running is quite interesting, and even that last session, it's it's like when you go to let's say Italian or Spanish championships, you're gonna get you don't get that that often. So uh I think also the tracks are just really special, like brands actually, like I said, with the with the old school style um of tracks, it's just yeah, it teaches you a lot and it makes you push even further to try and get to that limit, and it gets you comfortable when you go to these Mullin tracks, let's say.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. Dries, it's been an absolute pleasure and a privilege uh for me to watch you drive and for to chat. We've had some good chats, a lot of chats this season. Um and I suspect that before this weekend's over, we will be chatting again. But Dries, I'm gonna shake your hand. And so that I can say when you're on that uh F1 grid, I can say Theres van Langendonk and I shook hands. Thank you very much. Good to see you. Thank you, good to see you. Lewis Werrell has had a barnstorming season, and I'm sure the battles he had on track with Van Langendonk will be a big part of the story from this year. And he's still in with the shout of taking the title. Well, Lewis, you just literally come into the F4 race enter our studio here as as Drees was leaving and you shook hands, which has that's epitomised your relationship throughout the season, hasn't it?
SPEAKER_10Um yeah, well I've known Drees since I was a little kid, really, uh eight, nine years old. And yeah, we were teammates in karting, so we still have a good relationship even though we've been fighting for many titles together. Um and yeah.
SPEAKER_02It comes down to this weekend. Um and and Dries said to me that he has uh been under pressure this season, and and you are the one obviously that has kept that pressure on him. You you've made him look in his mirror on more than one occasion, haven't you?
SPEAKER_10Um yeah, I've tried my best this season. Um well the main championship this weekend is gonna be really hard to achieve, but um for sure I'm gonna give it my all and try and go for it. Um it's not over until the final race, and I'll keep Drees under pressure. And also even for the rookie title, that's quite compact on points, not many between us. Um so yeah, if I can get both titles this weekend, that'll be really good, but we'll just give it our all and see what the results bring.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. Uh all drivers have ups and downs uh throughout the season. What have been your high points and and the bits where you might not want to remember them?
SPEAKER_10Um well the bits I probably don't want to remember. One of them was a couple weeks ago at Silverstone. Um also when we were in abroad in Zambort, didn't really didn't get any points there, which Drews won two races, which is already 50 points. When the gap's 72 points, it's yeah, that's probably most of where it happened. But I mean, yeah, we've had a lot of highs as well. We had a couple wins at Snatterton, uh, a win at Silverstone. So I mean the season's been really positive, but there's also been negatives which could have made the championship a lot closer into this weekend.
SPEAKER_02And how do you how do you balance those bits when we get to this time of the weekend and you sit there and you say, Ooh, if only Zanvoort, if only Sammy, I mean, how do you do you reconcile that? I mean, overall you've had a very, very good season.
SPEAKER_10I mean, yeah, I mean you can't change it now, it's in the past. Um, and yeah, obviously the season isn't gonna be perfect, you're not gonna win every race. We've seen it with Drew's as well. It's not been easy for anybody really this year. There's been several different winners. Um, and yeah, I mean the low points just when you have a bad weekend, they just it just makes you want to do even better the next weekend. So, yeah, I mean we've had ups and downs this season, but so's everyone else, so it also balances it out. And I've had the team at JHR development supporting me all the way through, and yeah, I can't thank them for what they've done so far.
SPEAKER_02What what is the biggest single thing that you'll take away from this season in terms of perhaps you know your development and your racecraft or something that you've learned over the year?
SPEAKER_10Well, my first season in British F4, I think I've definitely learned a lot and improved as a driver as well. Um, from the start of the season to now, I think we've developed a lot as a team as well. Um, got a really good relationship with everybody there now, and yeah, it's been a really good season. We've learned so much that we can take on into the future, and yeah, we'll see.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. I it's across the grid this season, there is some incredible talent. You and Dries are leading the way at the moment, but right behind you is a chasing pack, and and that seems to have made it so much more competitive this year. I mean, I are you feeling that that that competition has been really intense?
SPEAKER_10Yeah, I definitely feel like the competition's been very hard this year. I mean the battle for second in the main championship is still on with Theo. I think people haven't really thought about him too much. He's still very much in the title fight with me. So while I have to focus on Drees, and he has been my main focus all year. Um there's still people behind me that can even still beat me in the championship. So um yeah, we'll just try and get the results we know we can, and yeah, we'll give it our all.
SPEAKER_02You've fought really hard, you've battled really hard this season. I know how committed you have been, and it's been a real pleasure to to to watch you drive. Have you been will will you leave this season saying that you're pleased with your performance?
SPEAKER_10Yeah, definitely. I think I'm very pleased with what I've done, even if the results haven't shown what we were capable of. I mean, Silverstone National, um, yeah, I gave it my all. The results didn't really show that, but I mean I tried my best and we're gonna keep trying until the very last race.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. Um the weather this week, I mean we're just looking outside, you had free practice this morning. That was sort of a so-so shession, really, wasn't it?
SPEAKER_10Um yeah, quite a few red flags which disrupted my um running, but I mean ended it up P7, which wasn't awful considering we didn't really get many push laps when the track was drying. But I think we'll go into FP2. Looks like it's gonna be a dry one, so I mean we've got to try and get the setup right just before quality as this time. We've only got one dry practice session, hopefully. Yeah, and yeah, just try and find everything right in the setup.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. The Grand Prix circuit here at uh Brands Hatch is a historic one, it's so well known. Do you do you enjoy this circuit?
SPEAKER_10Um yeah, I really enjoy this circuit. You've got to be really committed out the back section. Um, and yeah, it doesn't it's quite a hard track for uh your rookie year, but I mean we've done enough testing here now, I would say. Um yeah, if we'll just try and get everything right in FP2 and go into quality with a clear head and try and well get pole position, really.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. I think if the cliche of giving 110% was mathematically possible, I think that would epitomize you this weekend, Lewis, wouldn't it? Um do you know what is going to be happening for 2027 yet?
SPEAKER_10Um well we've got plans. Um which one yet isn't 100%, but I think we've got a couple options that we just need to wait and see if we can get the funding for as well. Um and yeah, see what happens.
SPEAKER_02Is I obviously discussions, confidential discussions still going on, but is that is that moving on or is that coming back? What's is that a 50-50? I mean, give me give me a clue, give me a tease.
SPEAKER_10I don't think it'll be an F4 year again, as this year has definitely been a very positive year, and I think now it's time to move on, move on to something depending on what it is, I'm not sure. Um, but yeah, see what happens in a couple months' time, see what gets announced. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_02I've just said it, it's been a pleasure watching you drive uh this season and keeping uh keeping the pressure on Drees as well. It's gonna be a fantastic weekend, just as I did with Drees. I'm gonna shake your hand, Lewis, and say the very best of luck for this weekend. Thank you. Australian James Agnostiades joins the grid this weekend after a successful karting career and legacy down under. He's now looking for the next stage in his career. Well, another new face dropping into the F4 race centre with a name that's going to challenge me. Okay, so let's give this a go. You just coached me, haven't you? James Adagnostiades.
SPEAKER_05I think that's that's good, yeah. That's the best I've heard.
SPEAKER_02So Australian, but with a Greek surname. Now I know there is a lot of there's a big Greek community in Australia, isn't it? I mean, presumably your family is is Greek or has Greek history.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, yeah. So um my dad's grandparents were born in Greece and then obviously came to Australia. Um and so yeah, my dad's got the Greek background, and then my my mum's parents were born in Italy, so also a bit of Italian.
SPEAKER_02That's a that's an international family, isn't it? Yeah, goodness speaks. So do you speak Greek?
SPEAKER_05No.
SPEAKER_02It looks a bit embarrassed.
SPEAKER_05No, my my dad speaks it fluently, um, but yeah, I've never I'm not a not great at learning languages, I would say.
SPEAKER_02Oh you know, I I mean I I like to travel and I and I've got very little bits like where are the toilets and can I have a table for two and that sort of thing, so as much as and two beers, that's always the important one. So, um James, good to see you. Um give us obviously the F4 race fans won't know you necessarily. Give us a potted history of your of your racing so far.
SPEAKER_05Um well, yeah, I started off in Australia uh carding uh from when I was six um till end of 2023. Um yeah, so till I was uh just turned 13. Uh went and done uh the Champions of the Future Academy uh inaugural race in the end of 2023 and uh won that in Abu Dhabi. So um Mercedes was scouting there, which then I got got lucky enough to get picked up. Um and then yeah, we decided to make the move to Europe, uh living in the UK for the first year 2024 because um we were racing in the British Car Championships in uh junior rotax with Argenti. Um and then also doing uh OKJ Europeans and OKNJ Champions of the Future Academy. Uh so yeah, it was a big year, uh big learning curve obviously, uh just coming from Australia and going straight into the European stuff. Um and then in the end of 2024 I uh podiumed at the World Championship P2, uh, which was a big achievement for me as it's my first year in Europe. Um and then yeah, 2025 moved up to the OK senior category with Car Republic. Um yeah won the won the first round of the Europeans of the year in uh Campalos. Uh and then had a struggled a little bit the rest of the season. Um still quite good results, but uh just not to match uh Christian Kostelo who won the championship in the end uh and I finished second in the Europeans, uh the FIA carding championship, so still a really good uh achievement. Um and then this year I uh continued again carding uh in OK Senior again and but also doing KZ2 with also with uh Cart Republic um just the European Championship which uh was champions of the future in OK Senior was going well. I was leading the championship and KZ2 was a big big learning step. Uh first time with gears and uh front brakes and all of that. Um which uh yeah I only uh ran the gank the gank round the first round of it. Um but yeah, and it was a good learning experience and then uh did most of the OK Senior OK Senior carting um but then uh stopped for the end bit of the season, uh didn't finish off both championships and uh decided Mercedes uh put me into a F4 testing program and uh and yeah now I've done two races in uh in Italian F4 in Imala and Mazzano and uh yeah now this weekend in British.
SPEAKER_02And now this weekend uh at the very historic brands hatch. Um so the step up from karting into F4 is is a big jump, isn't it?
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I would say so. I would say from OK senior to to F4, it's a pretty big, pretty big step, you know, you got front brakes, uh gears, um also learning with the with the open diff, you know, um control and that and um yeah also mainly the size of the size of the car, which I've struggled to get used to a little bit. Um you know having a front wing and not being able to to use the front bumper. Um but no, I'd say the races that I did in KZ helped me quite a bit. Um just you know learning to have the front brakes, having to brake straight, uh using the gears and all of that, which uh which that really sort of helped me progress a lot quicker.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. A key point is there is no front bumper, as you've mentioned on there before. But keep that in mind this weekend, that'll be really good. Um, how did you get on this morning in uh in free practice?
SPEAKER_05Uh it was tricky, uh obviously mixed conditions and uh my first time at Brands Hatch, uh only having done the one-day test uh a couple days ago in the indie circuit, which was wet. So, yeah, my first time on the GP track and it was on Slicks uh but half dry, half wet, the back section was quite wet still, and uh I managed to I think go P9.
SPEAKER_02You did, yeah, absolutely, which you know is is pretty good around here in those conditions. It's funny, it's very good given that you're you know up against uh uh you know a big field that has had a lot more experience in the car. So that must be you must be feeling good about that.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, it was also good because uh my lap, which the red flag was uh pulled out on, we didn't get many uh many laps, and I was uh four tenths up sector one and two, and uh before the red flag in sector halfway through sector three, I was already half second up again, so on that sector.
SPEAKER_02So red flags and and the weather uh means that the free practice this morning is has jumbled up a little bit, isn't it? But uh but based on that and based on the see, you know, that what you've done in 12-13 laps this morning uh here at Brands Hatch, are you hoping that you're gonna be able to convert that into you know a top 10 for qualifying?
SPEAKER_05Um I think for now, yeah, I think it's it's looking quite strong. Um yeah, I was obviously a bit unsure going to the first session because yeah, uh spoken to a lot of the drivers and brands hatch is probably they'd say GP Sega's one of the hardest, hardest tracks in the in the UK. But yeah, I mean I felt felt quite confident. Uh I'm a fan of the track to be honest. Uh nice and high speed, you know, you have to um sort of have confidence and sort of just send the car in. Um no, but from the first session it's looking strong. Uh if the second session is dry, then yeah, we'll see where we're at.
SPEAKER_02You've you've already mentioned a fair amount of international travel and being in uh you know in Italy and then uh basing over here coming from Australia. How have how have you managed that with with the rest of your life and you know school or whatever else that you have to get on with? I mean that's that's quite a big big change for you at the age that you are.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, I mean it was the first year was quite hard. Um obviously I like for me I only go back uh back to Australia once a year uh for about a couple of weeks max to see obviously friends and family. Um but yeah the first year was a big big thing obviously doing online school, trying to trying to manage that whilst I was quite busy with racing. Um and then yeah, just uh you know making new friends and uh not having not having family over here, just me, my mum, my dad, and my sister. Um so yeah, it was a big big uh seg challenge. Um but no, I think now it's just it's just normal, it's feels normal.
SPEAKER_02So you're based in the UK? Uh now Italy.
SPEAKER_05We moved in uh we moved last year because my mum's got a bit of family there and uh we could get res like a passport and all that.
SPEAKER_02Where whereabouts in Italy?
SPEAKER_05Uh about an hour from Milan, uh next it's a town uh next to Denzano on Lake Garda um called Sermione. Um which yeah it's nice, you're on the water like Australia, so it feels a bit more like home and nice weather.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely, and good food and all the bits that go with it. Um are you picking up any Italian?
SPEAKER_05A little bit, a little bit. I've I've tried to I've tried to learn, I've tried to pick up a bit from also racing with uh Cut Republic, the Italian team. Um it's difficult, but I can I can get past you know ordering ordering stuff and all that.
SPEAKER_02So and that is all you need. How to order, as I said to you before, how to order and where are the toilets? Yeah, so you exactly you can go you can go on a two-week holiday with that, as many many particularly Brits do. Um is this the start of you laying down um some some routes now to come back for a full season in British F4?
SPEAKER_05Um I mean not 100% sure yet. Um yeah, we'll see over the off season. Um but I mean, yeah, for now, for now I'm I'm liking the championship and uh yeah, we'll we'll see for next year.
SPEAKER_02I can't promise you any sort of Milanese Italian weather this weekend, but it is brightening up. Uh can see blue sky. Yeah, there's a bit of sun, bit of sun, a bit of sun. I don't I don't know if it's gonna rain or not, but I don't think it'll be as warm as Italy, but no, it's not gonna be as bad as it could be. Really good to see you. Um welcome to British F4 to Brands Hatch. Have a great weekend. Thank you. After some seat time in GB4, Michael Coe joins JHR Developments this weekend for the full F4 experience ahead of making plans for 2027. Well, it's always good to see new faces and another one. We've got a whole raft of them uh this weekend, haven't we? Uh but sitting in front of me, smiling, I'm pleased to say, is Michael Coe. Welcome to Brands Hatch and to the British F4 Championship. Michael, good to see you. Now I know that uh the four bit has featured in some of your previous racing, hasn't it? Because you've done GB4. So how come you're here this weekend?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, um we definitely just finished off the GB4 season two weeks ago. Uh it went well, we had a win in the reverse grid, and uh I think we had some testing with JHR, and I'm happy that they were able to reach out and say they need a driver this weekend due to Timo not racing, which is very sad for him, but uh we were able to utilize that and be able to race this weekend.
SPEAKER_02Ah, important to get some seat time, isn't it, and the experience of of racing in F4 here at Brands Hatch. Um so what's your racing history, Michael? When when did you first sit behind the wheel uh and uh and try and win something?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so I started carding quite late. Um I started in about 2021, so mid-COVID-ish, 2020, 2021. Um so I did about four years of carding and then uh tested the single seater for a bit in 2025, and then the first full season was this year.
SPEAKER_02Okay, so how much seat time have you had in this F4 car?
SPEAKER_01Um not too much because we we were a bit last minute to confirm a seat this year, and uh we have done maybe like eight days in the F4 car, and we only tested the GB4 in season, and yeah, we just utilized what we had going into weekends and just trying to prioritize uh learning the car.
SPEAKER_02Talking of learning the car, I've got the timings from uh free practice uh here in front of me, and you were eighth in the timings. Um considerably well ahead of some drivers who've had a full season. Um I wish people could see the smile on your face because I think that says it all. You must be really pleased with that free practice session.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I mean definitely we had a good lap time out there, and I think uh we could have improved, of course. There's always improvements in the driving, but yeah, I think for a first time in the JHR car and a race weekend in a free practice session, I think we did very well and we utilized the grip well, and I think the team are quite pleased.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. Uh the the F4 is usually seen as where the journey begins in the single-seater career. What's your ultimate ambition, Michael?
SPEAKER_01Um hopefully it's F1. I mean that's most people's goals, and uh I think for us it's definitely trying to be at the top and trying to maximize my career.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. So away from the racetrack, um if you get any downtime, how do you spend it? What do you do? I mean, are you are you at schooling? Have you got exams and things?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, so currently I'm in a boarding school in England. Um so it's uh London area, and I tend to study quite a bit because there's a lot of work that goes into all my studies, and I think uh mainly when I do have some free time, I tend to try and get on the sim as much as possible, go for runs, go to the gym, and just try and utilize it as much as I can.
SPEAKER_02So, where's home?
SPEAKER_01Uh so I grew up in Singapore, uh, but I was born in the States. I was born in Seattle and then moved when I was about nine months old to Singapore and grew up there my whole life.
SPEAKER_02Okay, so uh Seattle, is that where it rains a lot? Yes. So racing in the UK, you'd be quite used to that, wouldn't you? Yeah. I know there's another couple of drivers who come from the sort of Miami area, and maybe one from Florida. They don't get as much rain there, do they? No, not really. Um so do you spend a fair amount of time in the UK now then?
SPEAKER_01Uh yeah, so since we moved here full time to pursue the racing, uh we moved here last year, August, and so now we're just trying to make sure that we spend our time wisely. We don't tend to go home too much, but Um yeah, I think uh we we spend most of our time here.
SPEAKER_02Okay.
SPEAKER_01No, so I'm living um by myself in the boarding school.
SPEAKER_02Oh okay.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02I I has the has there been a cultural uh sort of learning for you? I mean I guess Seattle is very different to to boarding school in London.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, uh I mean ever since I was young I always grew up in uh American schools, so that's why I have the American accent. Um so I think it's pretty similar going throughout the schools because they're all American, and uh I think the current boarding school we're at now is really good because they're supporting the racing and uh it feels like quite at home because it's a good community and a lot of good friends and they're able to enjoy the racing as well. They're glad to see me racing around and having fun.
SPEAKER_02So yeah. So I presumably you do a uh British UK curriculum rather than the American curriculum?
SPEAKER_01Uh so currently we're actually doing the AP and IB system, so it it is the American system, so it isn't so intense compared to a British system.
SPEAKER_11And what's your best subjects?
SPEAKER_01Uh I would like to say math, because uh it's always been my best while growing up, and uh I definitely do enjoy chemistry. Not the best at it, but I do enjoy it. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02I haven't blown anything up yet then. No, no, no, okay. You mentioned maths, which which is really interesting because I was talking to uh to another driver earlier this morning. So many of the drivers that I talk to say maths is their top subject. And I really wonder whether or not there is a link between liking maths and the whole bit of the engineering, the precision, the data that that racing drivers have to uh get involved with.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I definitely agree because I think it's just a challenge of doing a math problem that like makes your brain work. And I think it it also affects your like thinking while racing does the same where you think what is the optimal line here, and it's sort of transferring um a hard equation and like working really difficult and tirelessly to solve the equation. It's the same in a sense where you're trying to work tirelessly to find the optimal line and find the most lap time as possible.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. So you've laid down a bit of a marker, uh Michael, by uh coming in uh this weekend, the last weekend of the season and and getting eighth in the timings. Uh, if you can translate that to uh eighth or higher in qualifying, that'll be quite some achievement.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I think um it would be good if we get eighth. Um it would be a mega job, but uh of course we'll always be looking down the road.
SPEAKER_02So qualifying is one thing. Racing in a series where the rest of the grid has the experience of the whole season is is another thing. What would you like to achieve by the end of this weekend?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I mean definitely um the main thing for this weekend is just to learn and be able to adapt to a new environment since we we do we did do a full season in G B4, we were able to utilize that and learn from it. And I think that um we had some mega starts in in G B4 and some good racecraft. And I think we're we're definitely going to be able to apply it into the British F4 season, and uh I think that we are able to hopefully utilize all the experience that we had before into these races.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, so is the plan to do a full season next year in uh British F4?
SPEAKER_01Uh currently the plan is still a bit up in the air. We're just deciding whether what to do, because we we definitely will be in a single seater again, but not sure exactly where and with which team.
SPEAKER_02It's that time of the year where there's lots of discussions, isn't there, about so many things, funding and teams and all the rest of it. I mean, that's something which you have to get used to as a driver moving up the ladder, don't you? It's not just about being fast in the car. You have to look at the marketing, the sponsorship, the media, all of those bits. Is that something which you're learning more about?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, uh, I mean, I have a management team and a social media management team, and I think they're both very supportive with all of it. And of course, my dad and my uh grandparents at home, they're they're very helpful with this as they're funding this, they're finding sponsors, they're trying to organize it as much as possible. And I think that um we do have some sponsors on the car. I mean we haven't pasted the stickers on yet, but um yeah, so we have one from Planet, one from um what's it called? Uh a physiotherapist named Edge Healthcare, and I think they're really supportive, and since they're one of them's based in the US, one's based in the Singapore, uh, they're both very uh intrigued by this racing format.
SPEAKER_02You mentioned social media. How many followers have you got? Have you got a big following?
SPEAKER_01Uh not quite because it still is quite a new account, but I think we have roughly like 500 followers, which we're hoping to increase. Okay, and is that is that Instagram or or TikTok or Instagram?
SPEAKER_02On Instagram. So what's your handle on Instagram?
SPEAKER_01Uh Michael underscore co underscore racing.
SPEAKER_02Right. There you go. Michael underscore co- underscore racing. Let's see if we can't increase that over over the 500 this weekend. Yes. Um, so one of the and maybe one way of doing that is the autograph session, which takes place here. So do you have you got a headshot photos yet? Have you had those done? I'm not quite sure actually.
SPEAKER_01Um You need to speak to your people. Yeah, I really do. Um it was it was good fun in GB4. We had the autographing sessions throughout the season. I was a shame that we missed out on the last one. I don't know why it didn't happen, but it's it's a fun, fun thing where drivers get to see each other and be able to meet the fans and be able to say hi.
SPEAKER_02Well, who knows? By the time you leave this weekend, we might have moved that to 501. I think we can do better than that, Michael. Don't we? A real pleasure to uh to welcome you to uh the seasons. Enjoy this weekend. Thank you very much, uh Brand's Hatch, but for now, thank you. Thank you very much for having me. Tommy Harfield comes into this weekend on the back of a very good Silverstone weekend, but his season has not been without challenges, as he told me earlier. Well, Tommy Brand's Hatch, the season's coming to an end. And it it sort of feels like just as your season started getting going after Silverstone, because you had a cracking Silverstone.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, um, yeah, it's starting to get a lot better now. Yeah, it's a shame it's it's ending, but uh to end on a positive would be great. Um yeah, the last few rounds you've definitely found a lot more peace, and Silverstone was good to finally get the first win, so yeah, it's coming good now.
SPEAKER_02First chunk of the season, first half of the season, you you looked under so much pressure and and like you had the weight of the world on your shoulders. I mean, how difficult was that first half of the season for you?
SPEAKER_07Oh it was just difficult because we just struggled for peace really. Like um even in preseason testing, we're just lacking a bit. Um we don't know if some stuff has changed this year, so uh we have had to change quite a bit, change the way I drive, change the setup. So um so yeah, it took and taken us a while to get there, but um I think we're we're finally there and finally capable of being at the front.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely, and it and motorsport can be cruel, can't it? Because you know, you've had some amazing drives, you've proved that you're quick, your racecraft has got so much better, and then you come up against these brick walls in the first half of the season. It must be really good to have found your groove again in this second half.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, it's been yeah, a lot more fun, obviously. Um yeah, it was just difficult to um to know why as well, because um yeah, it was quite confusing because yeah, we fully expected to be right up there at the start of the year. Um it didn't quite happen, but um definitely after the summer break we um we worked really hard and found a few things and we've definitely been a lot a lot a lot more competitive.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, you have so what did you do during the summer break that made the difference? When you came back, were you were you sort of was your headspace in a different place or was it the conversations you had with the team that has made the difference?
SPEAKER_07Um so yeah, it was nice having a three-week break to just forget about it. Although, to be honest, I've um had done a couple of Eurocup rounds in that period, so um yeah, it was nice to jump in on another car. Obviously that could have helped me as well. Um and then going coming back to the F4 it could it could help. Um yeah, we we we changed a few personnel, we've got a new another engineer to just have another point of view of things. Um so so yeah, we we've we've been working really hard and found a few things and um yeah, we're definitely a lot more competitive.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. I mean it you came into the series, you know, not with the the long sort of racing history that uh that some of the the drivers do. Yeah, you made an impact straight away. That must have that must have made you feel really good.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, obviously like last year was uh quite unexpected, but yeah, really good. Like um podium first race was yeah, amazing. Um it's a bit confusing why it's gone a bit downhill, but um is it nice to have people talking about you though?
SPEAKER_02Because within the paddock, I mean your name was mentioned uh when you did really well. And then when you this season that begin they say, what's happened to Tommy? I mean why isn't he up there? But people were talking about you, which is really important in in this business, isn't it?
SPEAKER_07Yeah, it's especially important for me as well, um with the slight lack of funding. Um so I I yeah, people need like obviously you need to kind of not focus on what people think of you, but you kind of do. In in my uh well for me I kind of do because um obviously I needed the people to to help me get there, and luckily DSX have um helped me so much this year and helped me race, so uh yeah, obviously I can't thank them enough.
SPEAKER_02No, absolutely, and and we all know that motorsport is expensive and you rely on those those sponsors. Which brings uh an added sort of uh set of thoughts for you to to consider throughout the season. You don't just have to be quick, you also have to do the business side as well and get involved with sponsors. Is that is that something which you're now more involved in and more acutely aware of?
SPEAKER_07Yeah, for sure, it's been it's been great. Um they've been coming to quite a few of the races. It was good Silverstone, there was 20 or so people there. Um it was good to win in front of them. Yeah, to begin with, it was all a bit intimidating, but um yeah, I've got much better throughout the season and much more relaxed with it. Um and yeah, they're all really friendly, so um so they're they're coming to brands as well, a couple of them, so uh it'll be nice to get another win in front of them.
SPEAKER_02It absolutely will, and that's the impetus to uh for an extra impetus for this weekend, isn't it? So uh away from motor racing, Tommy, what do you get up to?
SPEAKER_07Um not too much. Like I don't do much schooling if I'm honest at the minute. Um because you you had to take some time.
SPEAKER_02Brands hatch last year, wasn't it? When we're here, you were doing a GCSE in the morning, I think. Is that right?
SPEAKER_07Not Brands Hatch, I don't think. I think it would have been Troxton was one, and there was another one at Alton, I think. How did you get on? Yeah, fine. Um I didn't I didn't expect too much, but um good good for my son.
SPEAKER_02Excellent. So you're finished with all that GCSE stuff now. Yeah. So uh where are you in your education? Are you doing a college course or are you doing something else now?
SPEAKER_07I kind of should be, but um we kind of took took in a gap view almost. Okay, definitely to focus on racing. Uh yeah, probably we'll need to get back into that after the season's finished. Um yeah, for me this year, uh yeah, it was definitely a big focus on uh on this.
SPEAKER_02Um so so yeah, not so. I I did interrupt you actually, but what else are you? I mean you've got friends outside, do you get time to chill? Do you get a cinema? Do you go out and do stuff? Or are you just uh on the sim all the time or something?
SPEAKER_07I just do usual racing driver stuff, just sim, train. Um yeah, I I don't I don't do much if I'm honest. Um I'm quite boring, but uh um yeah, uh it's yeah, I I've enjoyed the last two years for sure.
SPEAKER_02But that was gonna be a question as well. I mean, irrespective of whether things go well or bad. The the fact that you you need to enjoy it is is what keeps you motivated, isn't it? Um and what does that mean for you now for the future? Do you know what you're gonna be doing next year yet?
SPEAKER_07Uh no idea, no idea. Um yeah, I hope to race something. Um obviously yeah, I still love the sport. It's been super difficult this year, um, super challenging to challenging to handle a few moments, so uh, but I I still love the sport, it's still what I want to do. Um and yeah, hopefully, hopefully I can be racing somewhere next year.
SPEAKER_02I'll keep my fingers crossed for you, like many people uh will, uh Tommy. It'd be good to see you driving something. Um when you came into the British F4 paddock, did you know many of the other drivers? Had you come across them before?
SPEAKER_07Yeah, I knew quite a few of them. Um quite a few of them last year. I was actually teammates with Thomas in karting. Uh I knew Henry quite well. Um I know um I don't know as many people from this year. Um uh but yeah, I I they're not like strangers to me. I I know I've I've seen them before in karting.
SPEAKER_02But um so you've you've made new friends in the in the paddock this year, I take it then, have you?
SPEAKER_07Yeah, I suppose. Um I'm I don't talk to too many of them. I I like to keep myself quite quite on my own. And I yeah, you obviously it's nice to be friends with people, but when they're your competitors, like um maybe I struggle a bit a bit more with that, but um I don't know, uh we we respect each other.
SPEAKER_02Which is which is good. I I think back to last year when when we first um first met and seeing you now, you uh you seem to be uh such a not such a different person, but a a very much a much more confident uh person than than when we first met. Have you noticed a change in yourself? It's been fantastic to see.
SPEAKER_07Yeah, people have been telling me. I I honestly don't remember too much uh at the start of the year. Well I don't remember how I was at the start of last year. I everything was all kind of uh new to me and everything was just happening in front of me, so I was um yeah, um yeah, people have been saying that I've I've looked more confident this year, which I guess is great. Um but yeah, I I don't know what I've changed.
SPEAKER_02You're like you're a bit older, aren't you? And you've got that experience uh as well now. But uh no, it's been really good to see, and it's been an absolute pleasure to watch you uh watch you drive, Tommy. Thank you. Um I will keep a keen eye on what uh what happens for you for for next year, obviously. Before that, we've got Brands Hatch to contend with. What would you like to round off the season with?
SPEAKER_07Uh obviously a win. Uh I'd like a proper race win, not a reverse. Um so yeah, we'll see it. It'll be difficult. Um we're well, we've got one more practice session, so um it'll be nice to get some dry running in because we haven't had too much. Um so um yeah, there's definitely a few things we needed to improve from the last time we came here, so it'll be nice to get in a proper session to improve and we'll see how we go tomorrow.
SPEAKER_02Go out on a uh on a high, as they say. Tommy, really good to catch up with you. Enjoy the rest of the weekend. Thank you. And Alfie Slater is hoping to round off this season with a positive performance here at Brands Hatch to make up for what has been a frustrating year for him. Well, Alfie, we've managed to get to the end of the season. Where's it gone?
SPEAKER_08Uh yeah, it's gone by so quickly, honestly. Like, I don't know, it's just I can't believe it's basically over already. Like it's yeah, it's crazy how quick everything went.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, absolutely. So round up your season for me.
SPEAKER_08Uh not ideal at all, to be honest. Um, probably not what we were looking for. Well, not anywhere near it really. Uh had a good start to the year doing the Formula Winter series um in Spain and Portugal, Europe basically, and uh that went really well, multiple podiums, um, very good results, like really really well, and then sort of came here and now it's just not we just haven't got the same speed. Um, went from being consistently on the podium at every round that we did to not even having any podiums or being near any. So yeah, it's been a bit of a not ideal year, but that happens sometimes, and we'll just have to evaluate and keep going. Absolutely.
SPEAKER_02I mean in terms of of talking with the team and going through the data and looking at your your performances. I mean you you're you're looking to to improve and and find where you can you can get better on each round, aren't you? Have those been difficult conversations?
SPEAKER_08Yeah, I mean it's not exactly difficult because like there's always stuff you should like look at and learn, and no matter how fast you are, you should always be looking at the data in depth and doing all that kind of stuff. But the only difficult part was was the sort of every time you come in, it's not exactly the same thing, but it's just sort of the same time difference and like all these different things happening, and then like it's just the same result to be honest.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, and that must that must be difficult. Yeah, challenging, I think, is is probably a good word, isn't it?
SPEAKER_08Yeah, it's not been the easiest of years for sure. And uh yeah, I mean mentally it probably hasn't been ideal, but um, yeah, we'll go again next year.
SPEAKER_02And is that the plan to come back in F4 for next year?
SPEAKER_08Not for F4, there's a few different options, um, but probably stay in the single seater route, but move up a category. I don't know where at the moment.
SPEAKER_02Lots of things to put in place, I guess, isn't there?
SPEAKER_08Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, so brands hatched this weekend. Let's let's assume and look for you going out on a on a high. Um do you like this circuit?
SPEAKER_08Yeah, it's the best track on the calendar by far, really cool. Um starts off as any normal track, really, and then uh you come out of T4, and all of that is just crazy fast and good fun and on the limit. So yeah, it's really really fun track.
SPEAKER_02So, what would you like to achieve this weekend to uh to round off your season?
SPEAKER_08Um I wouldn't mind points, not overtaking points, but actual points. Um yeah, it would just be nice to get a few where it's been because I'm inside the top ten, not because I've overtaken people. So yeah, that'd be ideal just to get some points.
SPEAKER_02What what's been the biggest learning for you this year?
SPEAKER_08Uh just to keep pushing. Like I it's not been good at any points really. Um we've had a few moments like uh the brand indie test we did two days ago. Um we've been the top five all day, so really, really good. Um but yeah, I just gotta keep moving from there, and throughout the year, there's been points where I've sort of been like, uh, what's going on? But um yeah, the only option was to keep going with it, and um, yeah, that's where we are now.
SPEAKER_02Uh in between uh race weekends, what do you get up to? I mean, do you get to manage to get some some downtime to say right, okay, I need to just park that and and prepare for the next one, so what do you do?
SPEAKER_08I'd say in the summer I got quite a lot more than usual. Uh I just sort of finished school, um, so I've got a bit more time in the middle. And uh yeah, I mean, every now and again I get a few bits off, but I mean racing so full on, it's quite hard. But I've done some like with some other racing drivers, um, like Reza C. Worthen, who does F3 and Dion Gouda who's doing F3, all those people like I I go to London with them or go down to the sandbanks with them, and that's all good fun, but uh yeah, I struggle to fit in with the time I've got at the moment.
SPEAKER_02So you say you finished school, you've done your GCSEs or or whatever uh exams you were doing.
SPEAKER_08How did you get on where you were that student? Quite well actually. Um good student, in all honesty, no, not really. Um just sort of never never really went because of the racing, sort of popped in every now and again. Um didn't do too much. I was a bit, I don't know, I misbehaved a little bit, I wasn't too focused, but um yeah, I mean for for what how long I was there and how much I did whilst I was away, I got very lucky with my results.
SPEAKER_02For sure. There's a knowing look on your face though. So and in terms of of the career and the ambition, is it is that sort of still on track for you?
SPEAKER_08Um well I never really knew what I wanted to do, so it nothing's really changed because I sort of did Geneta last year, I came out of that and I didn't know if I wanted to do be an endurance driver, um, do all the GT stuff or go towards F1 and uh done a year of this, and this is more fun to drive, but the results haven't been there, so like yeah, I mean everyone can sort of say they want to be an F1 driver, but at some point you probably gotta be realistic with yourself. And uh after the results this year, it's probably not an option, um, but who knows next year could go really well. Uh did a test in a GB3, um went like super well for my first day. And uh yeah, I mean if it if we improve from there, then who knows what could be on the cards.
SPEAKER_02Absolutely. Looking at across all of the the results and the the grid from this year, it's been one of the most competitive for for some time. I mean that must uh when you look at you know you must eye up all the other drivers on the grid and and look at what they've been doing. I mean, do you feel that it's been incredibly incredibly competitive?
SPEAKER_08Yeah, I mean I think for sure this is the hardest year the British F4's ever had. Um I I stand by that and I would go to say that it's the hardest F4 championship this year. Um few of the drivers that did uh Italian, that are doing Italian now, which is supposed to be the most difficult. Um we raced them in FWS and uh more often than not beat them. And you know, we come here and it's like we struggle a lot more here than we did out there. Um but yeah, I mean the level's still. High school everywhere, but this year for sure is going to be very difficult.
SPEAKER_02It's one of those learning curves, isn't it? Where you say, okay, 2026 was this, but it's uh it's not gonna it's not gonna derail you from what you want to do, though, is it?
SPEAKER_08No, no, no, for sure I'll keep going. Um but it'd just be a bit nicer if it went well. Did you have high expectations of yourself? Um I I do now, I say I sort of didn't throw out carting, and going into Geneta, which I did last year, I didn't. But after some of the results I had in Geneta, I sort of realized that I was like, oh, maybe I'm actually alright at this. And then I started to be a bit more ambitious with like how I thought everything was gonna go, and sadly this year what I said was gonna happen didn't happen, but um, yeah, I still believe that I can do it, and I've shown that I can uh just gotta make sure I do do it.
SPEAKER_02So you've set you've set yourself a line in the sand there, haven't you?
SPEAKER_08Yeah, yeah, definitely. Your to-do list. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02Um have a good weekend here at uh Brands Hatch. Uh let's hope you can finish uh on a high. But for now, good to see you. Thank you very much. And that's it for tonight and for the season. We now look forward to an exciting weekend of F4 racing. Crowning a champion and maybe, just maybe, wondering who from this year's grid will go all the way to the top of the sport. Also, I wonder who'll be back next year using their rookie season experiences to put together a title challenging bid. Who do you think we'll see? Hmm, answers on a postcard. Already there are rookies lining up for the 2027 season, and I'm sure there are many yet still to announce their seat. We'll also say goodbye and a fond farewell to some faces from this year who already have the next stage of their career mapped out, and we wish them the very best for the future. Once again, it's been a pleasure and a privilege for me and the whole Friday Night F4 team to get to know the 42 drivers who have lined up this year. I sincerely hope that our paths cross again, and perhaps one day we will see one or more of them on an F1 grid, a podium, or winning the World Championship. Or, of course, something equally demanding of their talent and commitment to a career in motorsport. Hopefully, they will all remember their time in the British F4 Championship. The time and the place where the journey began. Qualifying for the final Codola Pole Position Award of the season takes place on Saturday morning at 11.15 before race one gets underway later that afternoon at 4 pm. Two more races, the reverse grid contest at 10 o'clock, and the longer feature race at 3.15 will then bring the weekend and the season to a close on Sunday. Saturday's opening encounter will be live streamed globally on the British F4 YouTube channel, while Sunday's feature race will form part of ITV4's BTCC coverage in the UK. Fans outside the UK can watch All the Action via the Championships official YouTube channel. You can also follow All the Action on our usual social media channels and hear exclusive driver interviews straight after qualifying in each race on the British F4 website at FIAformula4.com and of course all the usual main podcast channels. And if you've missed any of this evening's podcast or want to relive it all again, you can do so straight afterwards on the official website using the listener game feature. Don't forget the Meet the Drivers Autograph session on Sunday at the F4 Race Centre. Your final chance this season to meet the drivers and pick up a signed photograph. For those looking to soak up what promises to be an unmissable weekend track side, tickets for the weekend can be purchased by visiting the official Brand's Hatch website. Finally, I'd like to thank all of you who have tuned in to our Friday Night F4 podcasts throughout the season, and you've done so in your tens of thousands. This year has been an incredible one for Friday Night F4, and knowing that you have been there along the way means so much to the team here in the F4 Race Centre. So a huge thank you. Your support is very much appreciated, and I really hope we can do it all again next year. My thanks also, as always, to all our guests throughout the season and to the team here in the F4 Race Centre. Eve Lake Grange, Ben Bunel, Flora Scott, and producer Matt Jones. Friday Night F4 is a create media production for the Vera Tools British F4 Championship, certified by FIA. I'm Steve Taylor, thank you for listening.